Papal States 1865-R 20 baiocchi
This specimen was lot 33333 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "Papal States. Pius IX 20 Baiocchi 1865-XX R MS63 NGC, Rome mint. A glowing specimen with golden rays which catch wisps of tender pinks (on the pope's bust) light greens and sky blues." The first coinage reform in the Papal States was implemented in the early 1830's during the reign of Gregory XVI (1831-46). All the doppie, zecchini, guili, testoni, etc., were dropped in favor of a silver scudo divided into one hundred baiocchi. This type was struck for Pius IX 1858-65. A slightly revised type, KM 1360a, which was 5.33 g, 0.835 fine silver, was struck 1865-66. Another coinage reform in 1866 dropped the scudo in favor of the lira used in the rest of the kingdom of Italy.
Recorded mintage: 7,346,114[2].
Specification: 5.71 g, 0.800 fine silver, 24.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Gig-107a, KM 1360; Berman-3313.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- [2]Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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